Oct. 28, 2018
06:26 pm JST

Oct. 28, 2018
07:20 pm JST

It isn't that rare earths cannot be mined outside of China, but that currently China can produce them more cheaply than anyone else. For many years, Mountain Pass in California was the planet's largest producer of rare earth metals. It shut down and was sold to a Chinese company, because it was not cost competitive.

Not discussed in the article is how much Trump's trade war has influenced the Chinese leaderships' decision to play hardball. Rare earth metals are today an absolutely essential component of any economy. Refusing to supply the US with cheap rare earth metals could be a real wake up call for the fool in the White House.

Oct. 28, 2018
08:18 pm JST

Oct. 28, 2018
09:57 pm JST

China is the largest supplier of rare earth minerals.

And buyers have had at least 10 years to find alternative sources since China suddenly cut supplies to Japan during the island dispute.

China is the cheapest source, but is also an unreliable source, and has been for some time. If it's a national security concern, as the military says, then why do they continue to rely on China alone without developing other sources?

The slight savings from buying "cheaper" Chinese rare earth metals goes right out the window when they disrupt the supply. It probably will end up costing significantly more if one factors all that in.

Nov. 1, 2018
04:50 pm JST

According to this (kinda old) infographic http://business.inquirer.net/files/2012/08/rare-earths.jpg;

China has less than 50% of the world's rare earth reserves, but they are the overwhelming producer, with more than 95% of the global share for the past decade http://www.beachminerals.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/rare-earth-elements-production-history.jpg

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